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Exploring Disability at the Picturehouse

5 disability sports representatives shared their lives and dreams at the Picturehouse Explores: Murderball on 19 July.

The guest speakers made small talk among themselves while darting glances towards the doors. This was the first time that disabled athletes from different sports and different backgrounds had come together to tell their life stories. Only two guests had arrived.

However, as the clocked ticked by, one by one, other guests started to trickle in. Slowly, the speakers’ nerves were put at ease. Maybe what they were going to do would make a difference eventually. If only someone could listen and know how much sports have changed their lives.

The Picturehouse Explores is a series of talks that are related to the movies being shown at the Picturehouse during that period of time. In July, the Picturehouse was screening Murderball, an inspiring documentary about wheelchair rugby [Read review here] Mr Frankie Thanapal Sinniah Hence, Cathay decided to invite disabled athletes to share their stories and dreams.

The session was led by Mr Frankie Thanapal Sinniah, one of the pioneer disabled athletes in Singapore who is himself a polio victim. Other speakers included:

Mr Eric Ting – a paraplegic wheelchair racer;

Ms Theresa Goh – who has spina bifida, a spine defect which took the mobility of her legs, and is currently an established swimmer;

Mr Jovin Tan, who lost the mobility of his legs to cerebral palsy and is currently a respected sailor; as well as

Nurulasqyiqah
Ms Nurulasyiqah, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, rendering her immobile from the neck down, save for slight hand movements, and is currently a Boccia athlete.

This was a very different session from the previous Picturehouse Explores, which were talks given one speaker. Cathay had decided to evolve the session into a discussion panel where several speakers could share their thoughts. Guests were not seated in rigid rows but were asked to form a big cosy circle. It was an evening made for the baring of emotions.
In a big cosy circle
Indeed, stories flowed from the speakers. They shared about how they took up sports and how sports made a change in them. From being shy and uncertain to being confident and happier. How they experienced the rush of triumph, as they earned pride for Singapore in world championships. As each of them spoke about their sport, the passion and enthusiasm in their speech and in their manner was clear.

Eric spoke about how he got to know disability sports through his driving instructor and why he decided to give it his all, committing time and life savings to wheelchair racing. Theresa told us about the many sports she tried before settling on her love, swimming, and how she hopes to get a Paralympic medal in two years’ time. Jovin described how he did not enjoy going out before taking sports and now, he is a proud captain in sailing. When Nurulasyiqah was asked what she intended to do after her university graduation, everyone chuckled when she replied: “Play boccia?”
Guests listening attentively
After the discussion, guests mingled around with the speakers between delicious bites like spicy drumsticks and deepfried squid and a free flow of drinks. It was an up-close-and-personal affair without the fanfare and pressure. An experience which we believe that the guests had appreciated as much as the athletes. Not many people have had opportunities to truly understand the importance of sports to these special persons, which is as much as to the non-disabled. It would certainly be worth reliving sometime in the future.

Singapore Disability Sports Council

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Exploring Disability at the Picturehouse